Locomotive step



P. F. CUNNINGHAM.

LOCOMOTIVE STEP.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25,1921- Patenited Mar. 14,1922.

Pwtr bk F Carin/ 19 I U I l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PATRICK F. CUNNINGHAM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS;

LOCC-MOTIYE STEP.

Application filed June 25,

To all whom it may concern Be itlrnown that I, PATRICK F. Cunxnvw HAM, a citizen of the Ilnite'd States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ot'Illinois, have invented certain new and u 'e'tul Improvements in Locomotive Steps, 0t which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to locomotive steps and has for one of its objects the provision of asimple and etlicient step adapted particularly for switching locomotives and ten ders.

A further object is the provision ota simple and ethcient yielding step which is adapted to yield when a locomotive jumps the track and prevents bending the mounting of said step.

Uther objects will appear hereinafter.

An embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification. and in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an end portion of a locomotive bumper beam equipped with a step embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section of the same taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of plate used in the construction.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, I have indicated a beam 1 which may be the bumper beam of a locomotive or tender of a switching engine,-or the like. lVhere the step, which is usually provided for switchmen to ride on, is rigidly mounted the supports are usually bent when the locomotive or tender jumps the track. With my improved construction a yielding mounting is provided so that when the locomotive or tender jumps the track the platform of the step will engage the railway rail and move the step mechanism upwardly, thereby preventing bending its mounting.

I have indicated bolts 5 as passing through suitable openings in beam 4- with nutsG screwed tightly on the bolts against the beam. On tle outer sides of the nuts 6, I provide spacers '7, and outside of the spacers are nuts 8 which are adjusted tightly against the spacers 7 I preferably arrange two of the bolts 5 with their nuts and spacers for. each end of the step and slidably iounted on the spacers 7 between the nuts 6 and 8 of each pair of bolts, an ar giilar member which has one portion 9 disposed Specification of Letters Patent.

1921. Serial No. 480,281.

substantially vertically and another portion 10 disposed substantially horizontally. The portion 9 is provided with a slot 11 of sutiicicnt size to slide easily on the spacers '7. The length of the slot 11 is preferably such that the bottom of the slot will engage the lower bolt 5 to limit the upward movement of the member 9 to prevent the latter from extending above beam 45 when the step is raised. The upper end of the slot is formed so that it rests on the upper bolt 5 when the step is down in operative position.

A plate 12 is provided with rectangular openings 13 01": sizes to fit nuts 6 and placed between the part 9 and the beam 1. This plate12 is preferably not thinner than the nut 6 so that the part 9 lies firmly against said member 12. At the upperend of each of members 9 is a hook portion 1a which is adapted to rest on the top of member 12 when the step is in operative position to help support the weight on said step.

At the bottom end of each member 12 is a guide, which inthe present instance com- 311S8S-L strap 15 having its central portion engaging the outer side of the part 9 and its end portions disposed across the edges of part 9 and member12- with openings in said end portions through which a bolt 16 passes. The lower end of member 12 may also be curved, as shown in Fig. 3 to engage the bolt 16 and hold it in operative position. IVith this construction the parts 9 will be supported against lateral bending strains below the slots 11.

.The two parts 9 have openings in which bolts 17 are disposed and a toe-board 18 is pivotally mounted on said bolts. The toe board is provided to prevent the switchman from extending his footbetween the upright parts 9.

The parts 10 of the angular members are preferably substantially cylindrical with peripheral grooves 19 therein. Each groove 19 is engaged by a strap 20 which is secured by bolts 21 to the platform 22 of the step thereby pivotally mounting said platform. The joints between the platform 22 and parts 10 and between the parts 9 and the toeboard 18 has sutlicient play to permit the members 9 sliding easily 011 their mountings.

I preferably insert a block 23 between the parts 10 on platform 22 so that should the locomotive or tender having the step mounted thereon jump the track, the member 23 will prevent a railway rail 21- from Patented Mar. 14;, 1922.,

getting in between members to bend or engaged by a railway rail 2% the step will yield upwardly. In case the rail engages one end of the step, such end can raise without the, other end, or raise more than the other end, due to the free sliding of the members 9 on the spacers 7 and the loose connections between the toe-board and platform and their'mountings.

I claim l. A locomotive step comprising vertical guides; members slidably mounted on said guides; and a platform pivot-ally mounted on said members.

2. A locomotive step comprising guides; angular members having portions disposed vertically and slidably mounted on said guides and cylindrical portions disposed horizontally; and a platform pivoted on said cylindrical portions.

3. A locomotive step comprising a platform and means attached to and supporting the ends of said platform permitting upward swinging of one end of the latter.

i. A locomotive step comprising angular supports, each having a portion disposed upright and a portion disposed horizontally; a step platform pivoted to said horizontal portions; and a toe-board pivoted to said upright portions.

5. A locomotive step comprising bolts in vertical alinement; nuts on said bolts; a spacer between said nuts; a step platform support having a slot therein slidably mounted between said nuts on said spacer; and a step platform pivotally' connected to said support.

6. The combination with a supporting beam, of bolts in said beam; nuts on said bolts adjusted tightly against said beam;

spacers on said nuts; nuts on said bolts against said spacers; platform supporting members having slots therein slidably mounted on said spacers between said nuts; and guide members engaging said platform supports below said slots.

7. The combination with a beam, of bolts mounted in said beam; nuts on said bolts adjusted against said beam; a plate having openings therein engaging said nuts; a platform support having slots therein engaging said bolts, said platform support resting against said plate; and a strap guide disposed around the platform support and secured to said plate.

8. The combination with a supporting beam, of platform supports slidably mounted on said beam and having horizontally disposed portions at their lower ends; and a platform pivotally connected to said horizontally disposed portions.

9. The combination with a beam, of platform supporting members slidably mounted on said beam and having horizontally disposed cylindrical portions with peripheral grooves in said cylindrical portions; a platform disposed on said cylindrical portions; and securing means attached to said platform and engaging said peripheral grooves.

10. The combination with a beam, of bolts disposed in vertical alineme-nt in said beam; nuts threaded on said bolts against said beam; plates against said beam with openings therein substantially fitting said nuts; platform supporting members having slots therein engaging said bolts; nuts on said bolts hol'ding said platform supports adjacent sald plates; a guide on each of said plates engaging the ad acent platform support below the slot in the latter; a

toe-board pivotally mounted on said platform support; and a platform pivotally mounted on said platform supportsl;

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification on this 20th day of June, D. 1921.

PATRICK r. ennui Norma. 

